Detroit Lions: 10 thoughts from week 1 win over Cardinals

The Detroit Lions were not perfect, but they played a great second half and beat the Arizona Cardinals in impressive fashion.

The Detroit Lions defeated the Arizona Cardinals in week one with a convincing twelve point victory. There were a lot of positives Sunday, even with the sloppy play but nothing is better than winning game one. Let’s take a look at ten thoughts from today’s game.

1.Detroit got pressure on the Carson Palmer all game

It is a shame the box score only shows one sack for the Lions because that doesn’t tell the story of how well they played. Palmer was under pressure all game (especially by the defensive tackles) and made multiple bad throws while under duress. Palmer could not set his feet and missed his targets, forcing three interceptions. I was especially impressed by the play of A’Shawn Robinson as he brought interior pressure all game. Anthony Zettel also did a nice job rushing from the edge. Palmer never got comfortable and Detroit was able to take advantage with three interceptions and a pick six.

2. David Johnson was shut down

It was shocking to see how well Detroit stopped the run in this game. Johnson had 11 carries for 23 yards with a long of six yards. The only run longer than six yards was a fly sweep that wide receiver John Brown took for a first down that only went ten yards. The defensive tackles consistently held their ground and the Arizona offensive line never could develop a push. The linebackers and safeties tackled well all day and Jarrad Davis looked really good in the middle.

3. Kenny Golladay is a threat

Kenny Golladay did not have a good first half. He had two drops and looked uncomfortable in his first game. What I love about Matthew Stafford is that he will trust his wide receivers no matter what. On the first touchdown for Golladay, Stafford made an excellent throw on the left side and let Golladay go get it. It was good coverage and yet Golladay made a better play. Detroit needs a red zone threat and he has the height and athletic ability to do that.

The second touchdown was a thing of beauty by both Stafford and Golladay. Jim Caldwell made an aggressive play call and Stafford delivered a nice pass (with great protection) that only Golladay could get. It was a great effort and excellent concentration to dive and get into the end zone. As he gets more repetitions, he will get better and continue to thrive.

4. The running game was abysmal

I really thought the Lions would have some success running the ball even with how well the Cardinals played the run last year. That did not happen as the Lions averaged only three yards per carry. Ameer Abdullah looked quick and didn’t seem to have any issues but the blocking was not there for him. T.J. Lang and Rick Wagner never got a push on the right side and the tight ends did not finish blocks. The stretch play to the outside was a failure and was a bad strategy. The Cardinals linebackers are too good and too fast to have success on that play. It’s one game, so there is no need to assume the running game will be bad all year but game one was not a positive.

5. The player of the game: Matthew Stafford

I really wanted to go with Golden Tate today after such a gritty performance and some key first downs but Stafford was incredible in the second half. He was on fire after a shaky first half and made some fantastic throws in the red zone. Detroit was 8-16 on third down which you will take all day. The pick six (which he was unfairly ridiculed on social media for) was an unlucky situation where Tate was knocked off his route and Stafford threw the ball late. Despite that, the game clinching touchdown to Golladay was a perfect throw and he was great on third down and in the red zone.

6. The Lions need Sam Martin

It seems silly to include a punter that didn’t play but it goes to show how bad special teams were for Detroit. Kasey Redfern was injured after he dropped the snap and while I gave major props to Matt Prater for not making a mistake in the punting game, Martin also is a very good holder. Jake Rudock cost the Lions a point with a miscommunication on the hold. Detroit will most likely have to find a new punter after week one, but the sooner Sam Martin comes back the better.

7. Jamal Agnew should be the full-time returner

Agnew had a nice game returning the ball, having three returns for 48 yards punting and an 18-yard kick return. Dwayne Washington was terrible on kick returns. He made two terrible decisions that cost Detroit field position and looked hesitant on every return. Washington had a nice game as the backup running back (including a key third down conversion) but Agnew needs to be the returner.

8. Golden Tate was excellent

Even after hurting his hand Golden Tate came through with a fantastic game. He had multiple third down conversions and made plays after the catch all game. Tate was targeted twelve times and made ten catches, which is a fantastic percentage (83.3%) and was open all game against a really good Arizona secondary. He didn’t do much in the screen game but he didn’t need to. Arizona could not stop him and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter went to his number for the whole game.

9. The nickel cornerbacks were okay

D.J. Hayden and Quandre Diggs were the biggest question marks for the defense going into Sunday’s game and I thought both showed some positives. Larry Fitzgerald had a good game and a couple third down conversions but that is going to happen when you face a Hall of Fame wide receiver. Quandre Diggs was active all game with three pass deflections and almost made a fantastic interception off a deflection. They did a nice job helping in the run game and the longest pass play of the game was only 33 yards. I thought the best attribute both showed was they tackled well and didn’t let Arizona turn a small play into a big one.

10. The Lions didn’t play great and still won by double digits

The Lions made a lot of mistakes. They made four mistakes on special teams, they threw a pick six, and they averaged three yards per carry. It did not matter. The Lions’ defense was fanastic forcing four turnovers and played better than the score indicated after a late touchdown by Arizona. They were put in tough spots because of the mistakes on special teams and they thrived. They stopped David Johnson cold and Arizona was 6-15 on third down. Matthew Stafford had a mostly clean pocket Sunday and made Arizona pay with 292 yards and four touchdowns. The wide receivers got open against an elite secondary and Stafford was not rattled after a rough first half.

Next: Lions game balls for week 1

It’s too early to make season proclamations about how the Detroit Lions season will end up but I loved how well the Lions played in the second half. The defense stepped up in big moments and kept the team in the game after a bad first half. The passing game should be elite with the addition of Golladay and if Detroit can be an average run team, they will have an elite offense. Matthew Stafford was fantastic and I loved how much better the linebackers played compared to last season. There is nothing better than a victory after week one and if Detroit can clean up their mistakes, there could be plenty more in in 2017.